Brush for electroplating and electrocleaning and anode for use therein



July 12, 1932. CONL-[N 1,866,699

V BRUSH FOR ELECTROPLATING AND ELECTROGLEANING AND ANODE FOR USE THEREIN Filed April 16, 1950 34 I 30 2 C NVENTOR.

' W %%EY Fatented July 12, 1932 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK CONLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRUSH FOR ELECTROPLATING AND ELECTROGLEANING AND ANODE FOR USE 'rmm Application filed April 16, 1980. Serial No. 444,854.

This invention relates to brushes for electroplating and for electrocleaning and'to anodes" charged or loaded with the electrolytic 501% tion; whereby dissolving of metal when soluble anodes are used may be virtually confined to the anode; whereby ampre uniform dissolving of soluble anodes and hence greater life of the anodes obtained; whereby anodes of soft metals (such as lead) may be practically and satisfactorily used; whereby discoloration of the deposit from metal dissolving from the supports may be avoided whereby metal in most suitable form for use as anodes (soluble or insoluble) may be combined with a support formed of a metal most suitable for mechanical strength; and whereby various other advantages may be obtained.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of said embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a supporting i rod of the anode;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views in side elevation, bottom planand top plan, respectively, of phe QISbOdllllQIlt of anode illustrated in Fig.

; an r 1 Fig. 6 is aview illustrating the in use of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, numeral 10 designates a brush, here shown as a round brush, comprising a handle 12, a ring or annulus 14 of bristles forming a. bristle-mass, bound or held by suitable means, as by means of a ferrule 16 pressing the upper ends of the bristle against an extension 18 of handle 12. A block 20 may be-arranged above the upper ends of the bristles between the ferrule and position part 18. The bristles may be of any suitable material best suited to resist the action of the particular electrolytic solution used. Hogbristles are usually used. The upper ends of the bristles may be set or bound together by a cement, as rubber. The mass of bristles, except for the set or bound ends; is flexible and adapted to carry electrolytic solution. Numeral22 designates the space at the inside of the bristle-ring 14 at the upper part.

Numeral 24 designates an anode, and 26 a. suitable anode-support. The anode-support 26 is conveniently in the form of a rod projecting into the bristle-mass. The rod preferably extends through the handle 12 tothe exterior, and is provided at its exterior end with suitable means 30 for binding or attaching a lead or conductin wire 32 thereto, the supporting-rod 26 there y serving to conduct the. current through the brush (handle .12) to the anode, as hereinafter more fully explained.

A binding screw 28 extending through the handle 12 or any other suitable means serves for holding the anode-support 26 in position, and also permits of adjustment of the support 26 in the handle and consequently of the position of the anode 24 in the bristle-mass.

The anode 24 is provided with .a hub portion or the like 30 of considerably greater' thickness or diameter than the rod or support 26. The bristles of the mass 14 make contact with the hub 30 and are held or spaced from the rod 26 by the said hub, The flow of curas rent is thereby mainly or exclusivel from the anode 24, the hub 30 actin to inhi it flow of current from the rod 26, an thereby avoiding dissolving of the rod by electrolytic action.

- By this arrangement, the support or rod 26 may be. made of stiff or strong structural.

material such as steel, and the anode 24 made of pure metal to be'deposited.(usuall comparatively soft or ductile) such as go (1, tin, 65

nickel, cadmium, silver, etc. '"Moreover, by the above described construction, the anode may be made of averyductilemetal such as lead, where an insoluble anode is desired, and rigidity and strength maintained in the supporting structure. The hub 30, by spacin the bristles from the rod 26 as hereinbe ore explained, prevents dissolving of metal from the support which otherwise mi ht discolor or contaminate the deposit.

he body of the anode may have any suitable form, a number of which are shown in my aforesaid application. As set forth in said application, the anode is preferably formed in such manner that the brlstles cling thereto when the bristles are flexed in the act of using the brush. To this end, the anode 24 may be formed with an annular portion or ring 32 which is joined to the hub 30 by arms 34. The inside diameter of the ring 32 is. preferably somewhat larger than the outside diameter of hub 30; Part of the bristle-mass is passed through the ring 32 see Fig. 1) and the bristles therein cling to t e inner side of the ring and insure at all times a mass of bristles (loaded with electrolytic solution during use) in direct and ample contact with the anode. The clinging of the bristles bearing against the outside of the ring 32, to said rin is also bettered by reason of the interming g of the bristles on the two sides of the 1111 able rom its support, to provide for the convenient renewal and substitution of anodes. To this end the hub may beprovided with a threaded socket 36 andthe end I ing a bristle-mass having a flexib adapted to take up electrolytic solution, an

anode having a hub surrounding an end of said rod and spacing bristles from the rod.

3. A brush for electrolytic use comprisle portion anode supporting rod extending within the flexible portion of the bristle-mass and an anode on said anode support also within said flexible portion of the bristle-mass, said anode having a hub surrounding an end of said anodesupp'orting rod being of metal and being rigid and said anode being of soft met 4. A brush for electrolytic use, comprising a bristle-mass having a flexible portion ada ted to take up electrolytic solution, an ano e supportingrod extending within the flexible portion of the bristle mass and an anode onsaid anode support also within said flexible portion of the bristle-mass, said anode comprislnga ring adapted to surround a part of the bristles, a hub surroundin an end of said rod andspacing bristles om the rod, and arms connecting said ring and hub, said ring,-hub and arms being an integral structure. l

5. An anode comprising a ring, a hub, and arms connectin said ring and hub, said ring, hub, and arms eing an .mtegral structure.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FREDERICK CONLIN.

rod' and spacing bristles from the rod, said of rod 26 threaded as indicated at 38 to fit the socket.

While I have referred generally to the and described.

v "anode on said anode What is claimed is:

1. A brush for electrolytic use, comprising a bristle-mass having a flexible portion adgpted to take up electrolytic solution, an an e support extending within the flexible portion of the bristle mass'and an anode on said anode support also within said flexible rtion ,of the ristle-mass, said anode havmg means thereon for spacing the bristles D from said support.

2. A brush for electrolytic use, compris- I 3 211g a bristle-mass having a flexible portion a ted to take up electrolytic solution, an

ano e supporting rod extending within the flexible portion of the bristle-mass and an siapport alsowi'thin said e bristle-mass, said flexible portion of 

